Chemical energy

Chemical Energy is energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds (atoms and
molecules). It is released in a chemical reaction, often producing heat as a by-product
(exothermic reaction). Batteries, biomass, petroleum, natural gas, and coal are
examples of stored chemical energy. Usually, once chemical energy is released from a
substance, that substance is transformed into an entirely new substance.

For example, when an explosive goes off, chemical energy stored in it is transferred to
the surroundings as thermal energy, sound energy and kinetic energy.

Let's see one good example in the fire-place illustration below.

The dry wood is a store of chemical energy. As it burns

in the fireplace, chemical energy is released and
converted to thermal energy (heat) and light energy.
Notice that the wood now turns into ashes (a new
substance)

Food is also a good example of stored chemical energy.

This energy is released during digestion. Molecules in
our food are broken down into smaller pieces. As the bonds between these atoms
loosen or break, a chemical reaction will occur, and new compounds are created. When
the bonds break or loosen, oxidation occurs almost instantly.

In the example above, notice that new compounds are formed from the breakdown of other molecules
or atoms. Chemical reaction causes that.

Kinetic Energy

All moving things have kinetic energy. It is energy possessed by an object due to its
motion or movement. These include very large things, like planets, and very small
ones, like atoms. The heavier a thing is, and the faster it moves, the more kinetic
energy it has.

Now let's see this illustration below.

There is a small and large ball resting on a table.
Let us say both balls will fall into the bucket of water.
What is going to happen?

You will notice that the smaller ball makes a little splash as it falls into the bucket. The heavier ball
makes a very big splash. Why?

Note the following:

1. Both balls had potential energy as they rested on the table.
2. By resting up on a high table, they also had gravitational energy.
3. By moving and falling off the table (movement), potential and gravitational energy
changed to Kinetic Energy. Can you guess which of the balls had more kinetic
energy? (The big and heavier ball)

Electrical energy

Matter is made up of atoms. In these atoms, there are some even small stuff
called electrons that are constantly moving. The movement of these electrons depends
on how much energy it has. This means every object haspotential energy, even
though some have more than others.

Humans can force these moving electrons along a path from one place to the other.
There are special mediums (materials) called conductors, that carry this energy. Some
materials cannot carry energy in this form, and they are called insulators. We
generate electrical energy whey we succeed in causing these electrons to move from
one atom to the other, with the use of magnetic forces.
 Once we harness electrical energy, it can be used for work or stored.

How does an electric current work?

A battery transfers stored chemical energy as charged particles called electrons,
typically moving through a wire. For example, electrical energy is transferred to the
surroundings by the lamp as light energy and thermal (heat) energy.

Lightning is one good example of electrical energy in nature, so powerful that it is not
confined to a wire. Thunderclouds build up large amounts of electrical energy. This is
called static electricity. They are released during lightning when the clouds strike
against each other.